On Kickin’ It, her new album, Josie Falbo demonstrates impressive vocal finesse. Her range and versatility are spectacular. Equally as important, she allows her interpretive skills to drive her technique. The emotion she mines in each note add up to deliver phrases directly from the heart. Kickin’ It is one of those albums you’ll listen … Continue reading
Greg Nagy’s album Just A Little More Time is a satisfying blend of soul, blues, and R&B. Nagy’s heartfelt vocals, exceptional guitar work, and storytelling all combine to deliver a must-have for fans of classic soul and modern blues. Besides strong originals (such as the title track), the album features compelling covers of songs by … Continue reading
Christmas is a refined and sophisticated addition to the stack of albums we joyfully pull out this time of year. Clearly, vocalist Judy Whitmore recognizes the importance of style when putting together a collection of holiday songs. She has her own bright and touching way with the material, and she surrounds herself with equally talented … Continue reading
Sometimes the material fits the singer so well that they amplify each other’s inherent gifts. Such is the case with Patrisha Thompson‘s new album, Your Love. Your Love stands out for its easy, breezy style, featuring ballads and mid-tempo tracks that highlight Patrisha Thomson’s clear, honest, slightly vulnerable delivery. She shares the vocal duties with … Continue reading
Looking for something a little more sophisticated to listen to this Christmas? Wayne Wilkinson‘s Holly Tunes is a warm, elegant, jazz-infused holiday album that brings some classic carols to life with refreshing interpretations. The collection of songs is beautifully wrapped with sublime guitar work and an equally impressive interplay between the rhythm section and the other … Continue reading
If the songs on this EP sound vaguely familiar, it’s a very good thing. It could be because, with his debut EP Trace Nixon embodies an appreciation for the most recent glory days of traditional country music. He captures the essence of George Strait delivering an Alan Jackson song with all of the earnestness of … Continue reading
Unexpected Guests pairs a tight, traditional big band with 11 soloists from various genres—including symphonic, folk, Hawaiian, and rap—creating a fresh and eclectic sound. I particularly loved finding the adventurous Vince Gill contributing his vocal gifts to this project. It is inventive fusion of musicians and arranger Dan Radlauer’s dynamic style. One of the most … Continue reading
Sometimes a new release gets lost in the shuffle. But when it’s an album that I find myself playing over and over again, it’s only right that I share the good news. Rich Siegel’s It’s Always Been You is such an album. Released in September 2025, it offers a well-balanced set of songs that include … Continue reading
On track after track of Two Trains, Dave Keyes, a seasoned blues musician, really delivers, in both his piano playing and his vocals. The album captures the power of energetic blues piano at its finest. The first thing that stands out is that Dave Keyes surrounds and intertwines his performance with a stellar group of … Continue reading
It took one song (“S-C-A-M”) for me to decide I couldn’t wait to hear a second song. It took the second song (“Sunday Stroller”) to convince me that this CD was going to stay in my player for quite a while. That was days ago, and I’ve been in a very productive, great mood in … Continue reading
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